Written Answers

Tuesday 12 December 2000

Scottish Executive

Access to Information

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive on what date it decided, under Part II of the Code of Practice on Access to Scottish Executive Information, that information regarding internal discussions and advice in relation to the problems with this year’s exams would not be made publicly available.

Mr Jack McConnell: The Code of Practice on Access to Scottish Executive Information which exempts from disclosure information whose disclosure would harm the frankness and candour of internal discussion, including internal opinion, advice, recommendation, consultation and deliberation came into force on 1 July 1999.

Ambulance Service

Dorothy-Grace Elder (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-10602 by Susan Deacon on 7 November 2000, whether it will detail the required specifications for equipment and machinery for ambulances at the time of procurement and the criteria used to determine when to replace a piece of equipment in an ambulance.

Susan Deacon: This is an operational matter for the Scottish Ambulance Service.

Cape Wrath Bombing Range

Dorothy-Grace Elder (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-9588 by Mr Sam Galbraith on 15 November 2000, how it was established that there was no reason to believe environmental damage was caused to Cape Wrath following the military exercise which took place there earlier this year.

Mr Sam Galbraith: I refer Ms Elder to the answer given by Sarah Boyack to question S1O-1388 on Thursday 16 March ( Official Report ,   col. 788).

Community Care

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-10485 by Angus MacKay on 20 November 2000, which response to the consultation suggested full implementation of the recommendations of the Royal Commission of Long Term Care for the Elderly and which Elderly Forum the answer is referring to.

Angus MacKay: The response was from a member of the public. Representatives of local Elderly Forums were present at awaydays in Dumfries, Gourock and Aberdeen. The specific point on the Royal Commission was made by the representative in Dumfries.

Dental Care

Dorothy-Grace Elder (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will make representations to Her Majesty’s Government or the General Dental Council (GDC) regarding any implications for the provision of dental services in Scotland of recent cases considered by the GDC and any subsequent review by them of their guidance on training, rules and qualifications required by NHS dental practitioners.

Susan Deacon: Guidance on training, rules and qualifications required by NHS dental practitioners is a matter for the General Dental Council. It is the responsibility of the General Dental Council to ensure compliance with this guidance. Matters relating to the General Dental Council are reserved.

  The Scottish Executive is to issue guidance on the future of General Anaesthetics in Dentistry, which will complement work also being done by the General Dental Council and the recent Department of Health report, A Conscious Decision.

Education

David Mundell (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how Learning and Teaching Scotland recruited the members of its senior management team; in particular, whether the posts were advertised externally; if so, in which journals and on what dates, and whether internal applicants were required to apply using the same process as external applicants.

Mr Jack McConnell: The senior management team of LT Scotland comprises a Chief Executive, and three Assistant Chief Executives.

  The Chief Executive of Learning and Teaching Scotland was recruited following an external advertisement placed in The Scotsman, Herald and Press and Journal, Dundee Courier and Scottish TES in the week 31 January 2000. Internal applicants used the same application process as external candidates.

  Following specialist legal advice, LT Scotland invited expressions of interest in the Assistant Chief Executive posts from serving Directors of LT Scotland’s predecessor organisations, SCCC and SCET. Appointments to these posts were subsequently made from those internal applicants. The posts were not advertised externally.

Enterprise

Dorothy-Grace Elder (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how much redundancy money is to be paid to Scottish Enterprise staff and whether any staff will receive payments of more than £200,000.

Ms Wendy Alexander: This is an operational matter for Scottish Enterprise and I have asked the Chairman to reply to the member. A copy of the reply will be placed in the Parliament’s Reference Centre.

Health

David Mundell (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-10216 by Susan Deacon on 18 October 2000, how it will ensure the security of electronic information, in particular patient information, as part of its Electronic Clinical Communications Implementation programme in the NHSiS.

Susan Deacon: All patient identifiable electronic information exchanged between GPs and hospitals under the Electronic Clinical Communications Implementation programme must be transmitted on a private health service telecommunications network such as NHSnet which is dedicated to NHS purposes. Some health board areas have their own private secure networks which are able to link to NHSnet to allow messages to be transmitted on a UK basis. All networks (whether single GP Practices, hospital networks or health board level private networks) connecting to NHSnet must conform to the NHSnet Code of Connection which maintains the security and integrity of NHSnet.

  All NHS in Scotland computer-based systems are developed and operated under a published Security Policy and Security Standards.

Health

David Mundell (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what measures it will take to ensure that information posted by the NHSiS on its website is clearly marked as being from the NHSiS and is secured against unauthorised alteration.

Susan Deacon: The Scottish Health On the Web (SHOW) website acts as a host site for all NHS in Scotland organisations. It has compliance standards which require that the logo of the organisation (or its full name where a logo is not available) is indicated on the menu bar of each page and that the full name of the organisation should be shown on the entry page to the site. Comprehensive security measures are in place to protect against unauthorised alteration; update procedures are in place which forbid any updating of websites by a third party.

Local Government

Mr Kenneth Gibson (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive when the Ministerial Working Group considering the implications of the Kerley Report was formed, on what dates it has met and on what dates meetings are scheduled.

Peter Peacock: The Deputy Minister for Local Government announced on 27 June that the findings of the Renewing Local Democracy Working Group would be taken forward initially by an ad hoc Ministerial Working Group chaired by the First Minister. The group has met on 22 August, 3 October and 13 November. Dates for future meetings have not yet been confirmed.

Multiple Sclerosis

Dorothy-Grace Elder (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to address the situation where 2% of MS sufferers receive Beta Interferon compared with over 10% in Europe and a greater percentage in Australia.

Susan Deacon: The Health Technology Board for Scotland have agreed to my request that they provide advice on the clinical and cost-effectiveness of the use of Beta Interferon and Copaxone in the treatment of multiple sclerosis. This authoritative evidence-based advice will help to address variation in the use of this treatment across Scotland by defining national standards for its use.

NHS Equipment

Dorothy-Grace Elder (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-11036 by Susan Deacon on 22 November 2000, whether information on the number of haemodyalisis machines is available from other sources; why this information is not held centrally, and whether it has any plans to gather this information centrally in the future.

Susan Deacon: This information can be obtained directly from health boards and Trusts who are responsible for the equipment operated in their areas. There are no plans to collect this information centrally.

Parliamentary Questions

Mr Kenneth Gibson (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many written questions have received a reply before the question has been published in the Business Bulletin, as happened with question S1W-11507.

Mr Tom McCabe: Publication of questions in the Business Bulletin is a matter for the Parliament.

Police

Mr David Davidson (North-East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what charges will be applied by police forces for conducting checks on voluntary organisation personnel under Part V of the Police Act 1997.

Dorothy-Grace Elder (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what response it has made, or plans to make, to the concerns raised in a recent speech by Lord Airlie, President of the Scottish Council of the Scout Association, that the association will face a bill of £750,000 for checks by the Scottish Criminal Records Office to be introduced under part V of the Police Act.

Mr Jim Wallace: The Voluntary Issues Review Group which Jackie Baillie chaired, has recommended that enhanced criminal record certificates should be available free of charge to volunteers working with children. In recognition of the valuable work carried out by the many thousands of people in Scotland who volunteer to work with children, the Executive is pleased to accept that recommendation.

  The Executive will make available £1 million to fund the cost of these checks, with a further £250,000 to establish a central body to help the voluntary sector make the best possible use of criminal record checks.

  Copies of the review group’s report will be placed in the Parliament’s Reference Centre shortly.

Prison Service

Mr Lloyd Quinan (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what measures are in place to assess whether or not a prisoner has communication difficulties.

Mr Jim Wallace: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:

  Prisoners are encouraged to access the learning opportunities provided and the Basic Skills Agency Assessment is used to identify those with difficulties. The principal focus of the work in the learning centres in prisons is on basic and core skill development, including communication. Some 20% of the learning undertaken in the first six months of this year was in this area.

Prison Service

Mr Lloyd Quinan (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what measures are in place to assess whether or not a remand prisoner has communication difficulties.

Mr Jim Wallace: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:

  People on remand are not routinely screened for difficulties with communication due to the short length of time in custody.

Prison Service

Mr Lloyd Quinan (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether data is collected on the prevalence of speech and language difficulties among the prison population.

Mr Jim Wallace: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:

  This data is not gathered.

Prison Service

Mr Lloyd Quinan (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many prisoners are undergoing a programme of communication therapy.

Mr Jim Wallace: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:

  This information is not available.

Prison Service

Mr Lloyd Quinan (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what measures are in place to address learning difficulties among prisoners.

Mr Jim Wallace: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:

  Learning difficulties in prisoners are addressed by screening prisoners for basic skills levels and prioritising access to specialist learning support for those who have particular difficulties.

Prison Service

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-9152 by Mr Jim Wallace on 4 September 2000, what evidence exists that sterilising tablets can help prevent the spread of the hepatitis C virus.

Mr Jim Wallace: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:

  While there is good evidence that sterilising tablets can help prevent the transmission of HIV, the picture is less clear in relation to hepatitis C; the provision of appropriate health education is therefore increasingly important in preventing the transmission of this virus.

Renewable Energy

Dr Sylvia Jackson (Stirling) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what projections it has for job creation in the renewable energy sector and what funding is being made available in this respect.

Mr Sam Galbraith: The Executive, through Scottish Enterprise Energy Group based in Aberdeen, is actively encouraging companies in Scotland to consider diversification into the manufacturing opportunities which are beginning to arise from renewable energy development. Our promotion of these developments will be further strengthened by our Renewables Obligation (Scotland); one of its aims is to assist the renewables industry to become competitive and thus to provide employment. A copy of our consultation paper on the Renewables Obligation (Scotland) has been placed in the Parliament’s Reference Centre.

Renewable Energy

Dr Sylvia Jackson (Stirling) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans for energy from waste schemes and, if so, what mechanisms will be put in place to monitor the level of dioxins around the sites of these schemes.

Mr Sam Galbraith: Various energy from waste technologies, including incineration of waste, have until now been classified as a form of renewable energy generation, and were included for support under the previous Scottish Renewables Obligation arrangements. Our consultation paper on a new mechanism to promote renewable energy in Scotland, the Renewables Obligation (Scotland), was issued on 30 November. One of issues on which we are seeking views is the question of qualifying renewable technologies, and in particular on the issue of energy from waste. A copy of the consultation paper is available in the Parliament’s Reference Centre.

  The Scottish Environment Protection Agency of course licenses all waste incineration processes for pollution control purposes and these processes are subject to strict regulation.

Scottish Qualifications Authority

Michael Russell (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what average time elapsed between the issue of invoices to local authorities by the Scottish Qualifications Authority and payment of such invoices in this financial year and in each of the last two financial years.

Michael Russell (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how much money was owed to the Scottish Qualifications Authority as at 1 October 2000 (a) by all local authorities and (b) by each local authority.

Mr Jack McConnell: This is an operational issue for the Scottish Qualifications Authority. I have asked the Chair to reply to you and a copy of his reply will be placed in the Parliament’s Reference Centre.

Social Inclusion Partnerships

Dorothy-Grace Elder (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the party political status is of all councillors and MSPs serving on Social Inclusion Partnerships, broken down by local authority.

Jackie Baillie: The Social Inclusion Partnerships have provided the following information on the party political status of MSPs and councillors serving on Partnerships:

  


Local Authority 


Councillors 


MSPs 




Aberdeen City 


3 Labour
1 SNP 


None 




Argyll and Bute 


2 Labour
2 Liberal Democrat
1 Conservative
2 SNP
3 Non Political Group 


None 




Clackmannanshire 


3 SNP 


None 




Dundee City 


None 


None 




East Ayrshire 


2 Labour
1 SNP 


None 




East Lothian 


1 Labour 


None 




East Renfrewshire 


6 Labour 


None 




City of Edinburgh 


9 Labour 


None 




Falkirk 


2 Labour
1 Independent 


None 




Fife 


None 


None 




City of Glasgow 


24 Labour
1 SSP 


4 Labour 




Highland 


3 Labour
2 Liberal Democrat
6 Independent 


None 




Inverclyde 


4 Labour
1 Liberal Democrat 


None 




Moray 


None 


None 




North Ayrshire 


1 Labour 


None 




North Lanarkshire 


2 Labour 


None 




Perth and Kinross 


None 


None 




Renfrewshire 


3 Labour
1 SNP 


None 




Scottish Borders 


None 


None 




South Ayrshire 


5 Labour
1 Conservative 


None 




South Lanarkshire 


3 Labour 


None 




Stirling 


1 Labour 


None 




West Dunbartonshire 


3 Labour
1 SNP 


None 




West Lothian 


1 Labour 


None

Time

Mr Kenneth Gibson (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it was consulted by Her Majesty’s Government, prior to the recent international climate negotiations at The Hague, regarding the impact on Scotland of any proposed introduction across the United Kingdom of British Energy Saving Time.

Mr Jim Wallace: The Executive has not been consulted on any such proposals.

Tourism

Dorothy-Grace Elder (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive,  further to the answer to question S1W-10806 by Sarah Boyack on 15 November 2000, whether it has made, or plans to make, representations to Her Majesty’s Government regarding the contents displayed on, and the design and location of, road and motorway signs in Scotland to achieve greater safety and clarity, especially in relation to usage by tourists.

Sarah Boyack: The Scottish Executive is in regular contact with the United Kingdom Government on a wide range of issues including road signs.